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MrBeast Invests Quarter Mill On AI
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- YouTube star MrBeast (James Stephen Donaldson) made his debut on Shark Tank, investing $250,000 for a 55% stake in an AI-powered ball called "Ball 2," developed by cousins Andrew Brown and Kevin Langdon.
- Ball 2 is equipped with sensors that track and collect data during play, connecting to a companion app that uses AI to create new games and challenges in real-time.
- While most Sharks were skeptical about the product's marketability due to the ubiquity of ordinary balls and the subtlety of the AI feature, MrBeast expressed confidence in its viral potential, especially among kids.
- Other Sharks, including Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary, doubted consumer interest, suggesting the product’s success would depend heavily on a viral moment.
- At 28, MrBeast has built a vast business empire centered on social media mastery, though some of his offline ventures have faced criticism regarding product quality and staff treatment.
